My whip

For the last year I've been driving a car that defies all stereotypes for a person like me. A mom, middle aged, relatively boring. 

I drive a Subaru WRX. Yep, that's the car that 18-24 year old boys all lust after. Speedy, manual shift, quick, compact. I have no business in such a car! But here I am, driving it daily. 

Each time I go to a Jiffy Lube or similar business to get my car's oil changed, the 19 year old male employees go nuts. "Wow, is this your car?" they'll ask, with a confused look on their face. "Yes," I'll respond, sheepishly. "THIS IS MY DREAM CAR!" They will undoubtedly exclaim every single time. "DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THIS CAR?"

Truth is, I didn't like the car at all, mostly because I'm a spoiled brat and somewhat because having a manual transmission car seems incredibly useless to me (if a car can shift itself, why would I want to go through the effort myself?); but also because I'm a 97 year old woman with sciatica trapped in a 38 year old woman's body. Getting in and out of it is hard because it's low to the ground, and pushing the super-hard-to-push clutch down to shift is kinda painful. 

However, I'm proud to say that I have embraced the car as my destiny, and I have finally discovered deep down that I have a natural, carnal need for speed. That car is freaking fun and FAST. So, while I am a suburban mom, I no longer have any hesistation to put on my mom jeans, throw my kids and dog in the car, and bolt to the grocery store, Fast and the Furious style.

Don't you wish you drove my whip?

Images from Raleigh, NC

BLUE LILY | Lifestyle Photographer | Salt Lake City, Utah

Night Photography Workshop!

We are workshopaholics over here! 

I'll be doing a really fun, inexpensive workshop on May 20th in the mountains of SLC, focused on night photography! I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS. Night photography is a new passion of mine and I am really excited anytime I get a chance to do it. 

Here are the details:

When: Saturday, May 20, 8:30 pm- 10:30pm

Where: the hills/mountains above City Creek Canyon in SLC. (high Avenues neighborhood)

Cost: $19. Yes. $19. 

What to bring:  You will need a tripod, a DSLR camera (run the camera by me if you have concerns), clothing appropriate for whatever weather is that day, a flashlight.

This is going to be a really fun, interactive, inexpensive way to explore night photography and learn the basics, plus get some awesome shots of your own! Included in the $19 is a pdf outlining the techniques of long exposures so you can be a little prepared when you get there.

**** In case of bad weather that day, we will reschedule for another date TBA. We need clear skies and minimal wind.

Hair Brush

One recent evening, I found myself accompanied by Isaac in my bedroom. He loves to just talk and spend time with any adult, pick their brain, or endlessly jabber on about his current favorite video game. I must have been cleaning my room as he talked, and picked up a brush to put it away, because I mindlessly started to brush his hair.

If you haven't seen Isaac lately, you may not know that his hair is almost as long as mine, and is the MOST BEAUTIFUL hair that possibly has ever existed. It's thick, luxurious, healthy, shiny... everything a female would kill for and want for her own hair.

As I brushed his hair, he kinda reclined on my bed and relaxed as I did so, and we talked as I brushed. Soon enough, Isabelle wandered in and said, "Oh! Mom, will you brush my hair too? That looks relaxing."

YOU GUYS. Isabelle has never, EVER, ever ever ever wanted me to brush her hair. She has always HATED it passionately, says it hurts really bad, and will try anything to get out of doing her hair. Izzy is a beautiful thing inside and out, and as lovely and as charming as they come, but she did not get hair like Isaac's... except that it is shiny when brushed. Her hair is fine and thin. Makes for really cute buns and pony tails, but she will never let me do those styles. 

So, when she stated she wanted me to brush her hair, I went into shock. "You... want... me to brush... your hair?" I asked. "Yes please!" she replied, and relaxed on the bed and floofed her hair out to be more readily brushable. 

This, friends, is a perfect example of why kids are confusing and evil masterminds. They want what they want when they want it, and sometimes not even then. Confusing, but a tiny bit humorous, too.

So I brushed her hair enough to catch up with Isaac's level of brushed-ness, and then I took turns brushing hairs and scratching their backs, and it was such a lovely evening, and a memory I'll remember forever. Even if Isabelle is an evilchildmastermind.

Images from New York City, NY

BLUE LILY | Lifestyle Photographer | Salt Lake City, Utah

Video of our trip to San Rafael Swell

Last weekend I took the kids out camping to the San Rafael Swell and Goblin Valley area. It was so much fun! I am pretty sure it was the first time we've ever camped off random land instead of a campsite. No bathrooms, no services- only pure awesome. 

If you're ever looking for a family adventure, I'd highly recommend going to Goblin Valley State park for a visit. It's tiny, so won't take more than a half day most likely. But, it's pretty cool because you can wander anywhere you like among the "goblins".  The kids loved it!

You can also do the Little Wildhorse Slot Canyon hike. Now that was an adventure. We did the entire loop, which was around 8 miles, and it was tough. We were pushing the dog up rock cliffs and coaxing him down more rock cliffs. Part of the trail through the slot canyon was flooded with water, which made for even more fun adventuring. 

Ask us any questions you might have about visiting the area, I'd be happy to answer!